Donald Trump's take on Gaza crisis: Why he says it's not genocide & what the US is doing about starvation in the region

Time of India

17 hours ago

During a press briefing on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he does not view the ongoing Israel-Gaza war as genocide. His comments followed a question on whether Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack qualifies as such. 'I don't think it's that,' Trump said, adding, 'They're in a war.' He also referred to the October 7 attack, calling it a moment where 'some horrible things happened.'
Trump stated that he wants civilians in Gaza to receive food and humanitarian support. Speaking before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he said, 'We want the people fed — and we're the only country that's really doing that. We're putting up money to get the people fed… We want Israel to get them fed.' He added, 'We don't want people to starve, and there's some bad things happening.'
US sends envoy to Gaza for first-hand assessment
On August 1, Trump's U.S. envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Gaza to understand the humanitarian crisis on the ground. The visit aimed to help develop a plan for distributing food and medical aid. It marked the first time a senior U.S. official had entered Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
Despite the hunger that ravages the bodies of children in Gaza,a child did not keep the loaf of bread for himself... but shared it with his pet rabbit. pic.twitter.com/Kktg4jRk05
Witkoff's trip followed his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day earlier. The visit comes amid growing criticism directed at Israel over the humanitarian toll in Gaza. According to Gaza's health ministry, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict.
Israeli officials call for war to end
Meanwhile, over a dozen former senior Israeli defense officials have released a joint video urging an end to the war. These former chiefs of staff and high-ranking leaders argue that Israel has suffered more setbacks than gains, and that the war continues for political reasons.
A heartbreaking daily scene in #Gaza: children line up at charity kitchens, pleading for food as hunger worsens. #HumanitarianAid #palestine pic.twitter.com/MYmKd0fLaX
They believe the conflict could have ended earlier and are now calling on Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire. Their proposed resolution includes reaching a comprehensive deal that would secure the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
UN flags civilian deaths at aid sites
The United Nations has raised concerns over the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's (GHF) operations, stating that its aid distribution points have put civilians at risk. According to the UN, more than 1,000 people have died while attempting to access aid at GHF sites since the group began working in Gaza in May. Most of those casualties, the report says, were shot by Israeli forces near those distribution zones.
As the Gaza crisis deepens, U.S. policy walks a tightrope between humanitarian aid and ongoing support for Israel's military actions.
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